Combination headboard



Feb. 28, 1956 F. T. PARRISH 2,736,042

COMBINATION HEADBOARD, BED FRAME AND CONNECTING BRACKET Filed April 15, 1953 4 i INVENTOR.

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mmw M United States Patent Office 2,736,042 Patented Feb. 28, 1956 COMBINATION HEADBGARD, BED FRAME, AND CONNECTING BRACKET Frank T. Parrish, Gardner, Mass., assignor to Heywod- Wakefield Company, Gardner, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 15, 1953, Serial No. 348,979

1 Claim. (Cl. 131

This invention relates to beds and more particularly to the combination of conventional or old-fashioned headboards together with Hollywood or footless style bed frames.

The modern Hollywood or footless style bed frame generally consists in a rectangular framework of angle iron members appropriately braced and interconnected and supported by short, downwardly extending corner posts which mount casters. The frame is essentially low, fitting only around the base of the box spring and is not provided with upwardly extending portions to which headboards may be attached. There are numerous reasons why conventional headboards may not be conveniently attached to Hollywood or footless style bed frames. In the first place, conventional headboards often have decoratively turned legs, and since the footless type bed frame lies so close to the floor, it would normally lie adjacent to the said decorative leg. Obviously, the decorative leg provides a poor surface for attachment, and also the bed frame cannot be attached to the decorative leg without permanently marring its surface. Secondly, conventional headboards of standard width are substantially wider than the Hollywood or footless style metal bed frame. This is because the angle iron which supports the box spring along the side of the bed frame extends outwardly from the box spring only the width of the angle iron metal. However, with conventional Wooden bed frames, the side supporting member is generally substantially thicker, and the headboard must, therefore, be wider than would be necessary for the footless style metal bed frame. For this reason conventional width headboards are too wide for direct connection to Hollywood or footless style metal bed frames. Thirdly, the conventional headboard cannot be attached directly to the footless type bed frame without interfering with the swivel motion of the caster wheels. Of course, the lower extremity of the conventional headboard could be cut away in the area of the casters, but, needless to say, such an alteration of a conventional headboard would be undesirable, particularly when it may be a valuable antique or the like. A further disadvantage in connecting conventional headboards to Hollywood style beds is that the headboard has generally been placed in close abutting relationship with the end of the frame. This has been a disadvantage because of the fact that it leaves no room for bed clothes, bedspreads, or other decorative coverings in the space between the headboard and the box spring.

It is an object of my invention to provide in combination with a footless style bed frame, a conventional headboard and means for connecting the two which compensates for the greater width of the headboard, which provides space for free swiveling motion of casters, which may be attached to the headboard in an area above the decorative turned legs of the headboard, and which provides a narrow space between the headboard and the end of the bed frame. It is another object of my invention to provide such a combination with connecting means which will be both simple and convenient in operation and manufacture.

In the accomplishment of these and other objects of my invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, I employ a metal bed frame of the footless or Hollywood type consisting generally in angle iron members mounted in rectangular relationship with proper supports and straps. Short corner posts are provided for the frame and carry swivel-type casters. In conjunction with this frame I employ a conventional headboard and between the headboard and frame I employ a pair of brackets each consisting essentially in a pair of securing flanges connected one to the other by an inclined web. The brackets provide a displacement in three dimensions for connecting the headboard to the bed frame. First, they provide a vertical displacement. The flange connected to the headboard is substantially elevated relative to the flange connecting the bed frame. Thus the connection to the headboard may be made in an area above the decorative legs of the headboard. Secondly, the brackets provide a transverse displacement between the headboard and the bed frame so as to compensate for the greater width of the headboard. Thirdly, the brackets provide a longitudinal displacement between the supporting flanges such that the casters on the bed frame can swing free and clear of the downwardly extending legs of the headboard. This displacement also results in providing a narrow space between the headboard and the bed frame.

It is a feature of my invention that the brackets may be completely symmetrical in construction thus rendering a single form suitable for either side and avoiding the necessity for special right and left hand constructions.

A further feature of my invention resides in the inclined attitude of the web which interconnects the two support flanges of the bracket. By.inclining this web my bracket is rendered more simple in operation both from the point of view of installation and operation.

Further objects and features of my invention will best be understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of my footless type bed frame and conventional headboard combination with phantom indications of the bed elements mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing a corner of the bed frame, a portion of the headboard and the connecting bracket therebetween;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of an end elevation along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The preferred embodiment of my invention herein shown includes in its general organization a conventional style headboard 10 having side posts 12 terminating at their lower extremities in decorative legs 14. The headboard 10 is connected to a Hollywood type bed frame indicated at 16 and comprising side angle irons 18, end angles iron 20, head corner posts 22 and foot posts 24. It will be understood that the bed frame 16 is fabricated out of standard angle iron and is joined by suitable rivets or welding. The corner posts 22 and foot posts 24 mount swivel casters 26.

The headboard 10 is mounted on the bed frame 16 by means of a pair of brackets indicated at 28 which include in their general organization a pair of offset flanges 30 interconnected by an inclined web 32. The brackets 28 are formed with each element in complementary and symmetrical relationship, such that they may be inverted and one form only may be used for either right or left hand applications. When in position the lower and inner flange 30 is secured to the corner post 22 of the bed frame 16 and the upper and outer flange 30 is secured to the post 12 of the headboard 10. Suitable screws or nuts and bolts may be employed for this purpose.

With reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the bracket 28 provides a vertical displacement between the supporting flanges 30. ,In Fig. 3, it will be seen that the brackets 28 provide both a transverse and a longitudinal displacement. Therefore, it will be seen that the bracket compensates for the greater width of the headboard, makes provision for securing the headboard in an area above the decorative leg 14 and also provides a. narrow space between the headboard 10 and the head end of the frame 16. It will be further seen that the offset relationship between the flanges 30 which is provided by the inclined'web 32 exposes the areas where attachment is made such that installation may be made conveniently without special tools or equipment.

Numerous minor variations of this preferred embodiment of my invention will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, the brackets 28 may be employed to mount headboards on bed frames of other constiuctions, and therefore, I have provided a multiplicity of screw holes in the flanges 30. In addition to this, it is within the contemplation of my invention that certain of the screw holes in the flanges 30 could be widened or slotted as may be desired to provide lateral adjustment. Therefore, it is not my intention to confine the invention to the precise form herein shown but rather to limit it in terms of the appended claim.

Having thus described and disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In combination with a footless bed frame, a headboard having decorative legs; means for mounting said headboard on said frame including a pair of brackets, one of which is a right-hand bracket and the other of which is a left-hand bracket, each said bracket including a flange attached to said frame, a flange attached to said headboard, and a web element integral with and interconnecting said flanges; said flanges and web being arranged in balanced symmetry whereby a single form may serve as a right-hand or left-hand member of said pair of brackets; and said web supporting said flanges in offset relation vertically whereby one said flange is secured to said headboard above said decorative leg, in offset relation transversely whereby to compensate for a greater width in said headboard than in said frame, and in offset relation longitudinally whereby to provide room for a caster on said frame as well as space for a bedspread between a bed on said frame and said headboard.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,062 Early Jan. 8, 1839 168,342 Ogborn et a1 Oct. 5, 1875 1,433,538 Frank 1 Oct. 31, 1922 1,694,940 Herz Dec. 11, 1928 2,263,050 Rein Nov. 18, 1941 2,523,988 Fox Sept. 26, 1950 2,686,322 Blanke et a1 Aug. 17, 1954 

